A. Protective Gear: All firefighters are required to wear protective gear at all times while at the scene of a fire or during hazardous situations. Firefighters will not enter any structure having smoke or fumes present, without a fresh air mask and equipment. The level of the protective clothing shall be determined by the situation. All breathing apparatus or other protective equipment shall be worn and used by firefighters in accordance with the manufacture's guidelines and with the policies and procedures of the department.
B. Care Of Clothing And Equipment: It shall be the duty of all personnel of the department to inspect, maintain and clean all their firefighting clothing and equipment. Any discrepancy will be reported to the chief immediately. Unnecessary abuse of the equipment will not be tolerated. Upon returning to the station, the firefighter in charge of the apparatus shall check thoroughly to see that all of the hoses, tools, fittings or equipment for that apparatus is accounted for. A report of any missing articles shall be given to the chief engineer.
C. Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA): SCBA will be worn in any atmosphere containing a toxic or producing gas, vapor, dust or mist that is immediately dangerous to life or health or where the concentration is unknown, in any oxygen deficient atmosphere. After use, wash, sanitize, rinse and dry face piece. Check cylinder pressure weekly, examine face pieces and breathing tubes for cuts, breaks and wear. Check harness and straps, "O" rings on high pressure lines. Don face piece and test valve functions for leakage, test low pressure alarm. Every (5) years SCBA equipment requires a hydrostatic test.
D. Tools And Equipment: No equipment, tools or supplies shall be taken from the apparatus except for use at the scene of an alarm or other approved activity. No tool or other equipment assigned to the apparatus shall be used to accomplish daily routine tasks. No tools or other equipment of the department are to be loaned for private use.
E. Vehicles Ready For Response: All apparatus, equipment and vehicles shall be kept serviced and ready for immediate response to and use at alarms. It is the responsibility of the individual in charge of any apparatus, equipment or vehicle to see that this is done immediately upon return to the station from an alarm or other activity, regardless of the hour of the day or night. The inability to accomplish this shall be reported on the approved forms showing the repairs that are needed in order to return the apparatus to service.
F. Change Of Vehicles, Equipment: Volunteers shall not change the construction or arrangements of apparatus, or of any departmental vehicles, building, appliance or fixture without approval from the fire chief.
G. Fire Hoses: Fire hoses will be loaded on the pumpers as follows: pumper (22J610) load water source to fire; pumper (22J611) load water source to fire; brush truck (22J620) hose reel; tanker (22J630) hose reel, brush lines.
H. Fuel: All fire apparatus will be topped off with fuel before being returned to station and put back in service, to include auxiliary pumps and/or generators on weekends, holidays and after hours.
I. Private Use Of Vehicle: No firefighter shall use, drive or operate any fire department vehicle for any private or personal purpose or for any purpose other than in the official performance of his/her duty. The mayor or city council representative over the fire department may authorize the use of vehicles for civic functions, such as parades, as long as all safety considerations are adhered to by all personnel involved. Participants in civic functions will not be paid, and requests for support will be handled on a volunteer basis. (Ord. 96-5-14-2, 5-14-1996)